Lahore, May 08, 2015 (PPI-OT): Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) launched the last domestic cricket championship of the 2014-15 season, the Cool and Cool presents Haier Super8 T20 Cup 2014-2015 with great fanfare here at the National Cricket Academy Friday afternoon by unveiling the event logo and introducing the bevy of tournament and team sponsors in the presence of former cricketers, print and electronic media and the Board’s top and upper tier management.

Each of the sponsors was introduced and spoke on the occasion, along with PCB’s Director Domestic Cricket Operations, the former Pakistan captain Intikhab Alam with the PCB COO Mr Subhan Ahmad’s remarks bringing the event to a close.

The leading T20 event on the national calendar and, owing to its short but enthralling format, a major draw-card amongst the spectators, as is evident from its title, contains eight of the topmost regional outfits, and shall this year be played at Faisalabad.

The tournament commences on May 11 and runs up to May 18, 2015. The top two sides from each group on the points table shall qualify for the semi finals. Two matches have been scheduled every day, the first starting at 5p.m. and the second at 9p.m. Both the semi-finals will be held on May 17, followed by the final on May 18.

Intikhab Alam in his address noted that each of the regions had a sponsor, and he assured each of them that the competitive nature of the event, its live telecast as well as enormous crowd participation would provide valuable mileage to the sponsors.

Mr Subhan Ahmad too was appreciative of the corporate support that the PCB’s various sponsors have provided to the game through thick and thin. “PCB is indeed quite grateful to its sponsors; they nurtured us when the going was good, but the more important thing is that they never shied away when we fell to bad times – for no fault of the Board and its management.

“The last half a dozen years have not been kind to Pakistan cricket, not just because of the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team but also owing to a general environment of terror which thwarted PCB’s endeavours to bring international cricket back to Pakistan.

“But even in these bad times when our cricketers were reduced to nomads, as we were forced to play our cricket offshore, our sponsors kept faith in us throughout. It is because of them and also because of some sound and prudent management that we not just remained afloat, our finances always remained in the black year-on-year. Most people would not be aware that despite hosting our international ‘home’ cricket abroad, and owing to reciprocity compulsions not always against high-revenue-yield top notch outfits, we still made profit from most of the series, only breaking even in a handful and never losing a dime on any.

“On this cheerful note, I thank all the sponsors present here again for their corporate and financial backing. I am sure they are aware that by attaching their brand with Pakistan cricket they are backing a sure-shot winner”, said the PCB COO, Subhan Ahmad.

Main Sponsors:

1. Title Sponsor – Haier Pakistan

2. Presenting Sponsor – COOL and COOL

3. Co-Sponsor – Zong CM PAk and Brighto Paints

Team Sponsors:

1. Q Mobile Karachi Dolphins

2. Brighto Paints Lahore Lions

3. Zong Faisalabad Wolves

4. Zong Sialkot Stallions

5. Zong Peshawar Panthers

6. Mughal Steel Abbottabad Falcons

7. Mughal Steel Multan Tigers

8. Head and Shoulders Rawalpindi Rams

Speaking on the Occasion:

Mr. Javed Afridi, CEO Haier Pakistan unveiled the Tournament Logo and highlighted the importance of this Domestic Super 8 T20 Cup. He assured that Haier Pakistan will continue its support for the game development in the country. He commented that this tournament has always produced good pool of young cricketers for Pakistan National Team.

Mr. Farhan Sanghani, Director Operations, Cool and Cool assured PCB full support at all times for Pakistan Cricket at home soil or abroad. Cool and Cool has been a continuous sponsor of Pakistan’s International cricket Series at U.A.E and now feels proud to become the Presenting Sponsor of the biggest domestic event.

Mr. Zarak Khan, Regional Director S and D – Zong CM Pak assured PCB continued support towards game of cricket. He also mentioned Zong keen interest in Cricket Pakistan and has Sponsored 3 Major teams in this tournament from 8 Teams, which shows Zong’s commitment towards Cricket Pakistan as a sponsor.

He unveiled the team logos of “Zong Faisalabad Wolves”, ”Zong Sialkot Stallions”, ”Zong Peshawar Panthars”, Zong is also Co-Sponsor of the tournament.

Mr. Subhan Ahmed, COO, PCB on behalf of Q Mobile unveiled the logo of its teams “Q Mobile Karachi Dolphins” and assured passionate support of Q Mobile towards Cricket Pakistan in future as well. Q Mobile is also Official Handset Partner of the tournament.

Mr. Subhan Ahmed, COO, PCB on behalf of P and G unveiled the logo of its team “Head and Shoulders Rawalpindi Rams” and assured passionate support of Head and Shoulders.